Systems and methods for regulating temperatures around extremities

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for regulating temperatures around an extremity of a subject. For example, the subject may be a subject having neuropathy, or other conditions in which control of the temperature around the extremity may be beneficial. For example, one aspect is generally directed to a device for regulating temperatures. The device can be used to surround an extremity, such as a hand or foot. The device may include a frame in which the extremity is located, and optionally fabric or other material draped around at least portion of the frame. These may be positioned so as to avoid contact with the extremity. Air may be distributed in an interior region within the frame, e.g., to regulate the temperature therein. In addition, in some cases, aromatic substances such as essential oils may be present in the interior region. Other aspects are generally directed to regulating the temperature of an extremity of a subject, e.g., a subject having neuropathy or other conditions. In some cases, this may be controlled by the subject. Yet other aspects are directed to methods of making such devices, kits involving such devices, or the like.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for regulating temperature around an extremity of a subject, the device comprising:
 a structure comprising a shaped frame defining an interior region having a volume at least sufficient to contain an extremity of a subject, wherein the volume is no more than 10 ft 3 ;   a cooling system able to produce cooled air; and   a distributor positioned to distribute the cooled air from the cooling system into the interior region of the shaped frame.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a conduit connecting the cooling system to the distributor. 
     
     
         3 . The device of any one of  claim 1 or 2 , further comprising an attachment constructed and arranged to immobilize the shaped frame on a bed. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the attachment comprises a clamp. 
     
     
         5 . The device of any one of  claim 3 or 4 , wherein the attachment is constructed and arranged immobilize the shaped frame on a mattress of the bed. 
     
     
         6 . The device of any one of  claims 1-5 , wherein the attachment is constructed and arranged immobilize the shaped frame on a bedframe of the bed. 
     
     
         7 . The device of any one of  claims 1-6 , wherein the structure further comprises a stand positioning the shaped frame at a height of between 1.5 ft and 3 ft over a bottom of the stand. 
     
     
         8 . The device of any one of  claims 1-7 , wherein the structure further comprises fabric covering at least a portion of the interior region. 
     
     
         9 . The device of any one of  claims 1-8 , wherein the interior region has a maximum dimension of no more than 2 ft. 
     
     
         10 . The device of any one of  claims 1-9 , wherein the shaped frame comprises at least one leg member defining the interior region. 
     
     
         11 . The device of any one of  claims 1-10 , wherein the shaped frame is constructed and arranged to rest upon a bed to define the interior region. 
     
     
         12 . The device of any one of  claims 1-11 , wherein the shaped frame comprises metal. 
     
     
         13 . The device of any one of  claims 1-12 , wherein the shaped frame comprises aluminum. 
     
     
         14 . The device of any one of  claims 1-13 , wherein the shaped frame comprises plastic. 
     
     
         15 . The device of any one of  claims 1-14 , wherein the shaped frame is adjustable. 
     
     
         16 . The device of any one of  claims 1-15 , further comprising a temperature sensor positioned to determine a temperature of the interior region. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , further comprising a thermostat constructed and arranged to control the cooling system in response to the temperature of the interior region. 
     
     
         18 . The device of any one of  claims 1-17 , wherein the cooling system comprises a fan. 
     
     
         19 . The device of any one of  claims 1-18 , wherein the cooling system comprises an air conditioner. 
     
     
         20 . The device of any one of  claims 1-19 , wherein the cooling system comprises a thermoelectric cooler. 
     
     
         21 . The device of any one of  claims 1-20 , wherein the cooling system comprises a Peltier cooler. 
     
     
         22 . The device of any one of  claims 1-21 , wherein the distributor comprises a fan. 
     
     
         23 . The device of any one of  claims 1-22 , wherein the distributor comprises a conduit having one or more openings directed at the interior region. 
     
     
         24 . The device of any one of  claims 1-23 , further comprising a source of aromatics configured to distribute an aromatic into the cooled air. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the source of aromatics comprises a liquid in a container. 
     
     
         26 . The device of any one of  claim 24 or 25 , wherein the source of aromatics comprises a nebulizer. 
     
     
         27 . The device of any one of  claims 24-26 , wherein the source of aromatics comprises an essential oil. 
     
     
         28 . The device of any one of  claims 24-27 , wherein the source of aromatics comprises lavender oil. 
     
     
         29 . A device for regulating temperature around an extremity of a subject, the device comprising:
 a structure comprising a shaped frame defining an interior region;   a brace immobilizing the shaped frame on a mattress or a bedframe;   a cooling system able to produce cooled air; and   a distributor for distributing the cooled air from the cooling system into the interior region of the shaped frame.   
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 29 , further comprising a conduit connecting the cooling system to the distributor. 
     
     
         31 . The device of any one of  claim 29 or 30 , further comprising an attachment constructed and arranged to immobilize the shaped frame on a bed. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the attachment comprises a clamp. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 31 or 32 , wherein the attachment is constructed and arranged immobilize the shaped frame on a mattress of the bed. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 31-33 , wherein the attachment is constructed and arranged immobilize the shaped frame on a bedframe of the bed. 
     
     
         35 . The device of any one of  claims 29-34 , wherein the structure further comprises a stand positioning the shaped frame at a height of between 1.5 ft and 3 ft over a bottom of the stand. 
     
     
         36 . The device of any one of  claims 29-35 , wherein the structure further comprises fabric covering at least a portion of the interior region. 
     
     
         37 . The device of any one of  claims 29-36 , wherein the shaped frame has a volume at least sufficient to contain an extremity of a subject. 
     
     
         38 . The device of any one of  claims 29-37 , wherein the shaped frame has a volume of no more than 10 ft 3 . 
     
     
         39 . The device of any one of  claims 29-38 , wherein the interior region has a maximum dimension of no more than 2 ft. 
     
     
         40 . The device of any one of  claims 29-39 , wherein the shaped frame comprises at least one leg member defining the interior region. 
     
     
         41 . The device of any one of  claims 29-40 , wherein the shaped frame is constructed and arranged to rest upon a bed to define the interior region. 
     
     
         42 . The device of any one of  claims 29-41 , wherein the shaped frame comprises metal. 
     
     
         43 . The device of any one of  claims 29-42 , wherein the shaped frame comprises aluminum. 
     
     
         44 . The device of any one of  claims 29-43 , wherein the shaped frame comprises plastic. 
     
     
         45 . The device of any one of  claims 29-44 , wherein the shaped frame is adjustable. 
     
     
         46 . The device of any one of  claims 29-45 , further comprising a temperature sensor positioned to determine a temperature of the interior region. 
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 46 , further comprising a thermostat constructed and arranged to control the cooling system in response to the temperature of the interior region on. 
     
     
         48 . The device of any one of  claims 29-47 , wherein the cooling system comprises a fan. 
     
     
         49 . The device of any one of  claims 29-48 , wherein the cooling system comprises an air conditioner. 
     
     
         50 . The device of any one of  claims 29-49 , wherein the cooling system comprises a thermoelectric cooler. 
     
     
         51 . The device of any one of  claims 29-50 , wherein the cooling system comprises a Peltier cooler. 
     
     
         52 . The device of any one of  claims 29-51 , wherein the distributor comprises a fan. 
     
     
         53 . The device of any one of  claims 29-52 , wherein the distributor comprises a conduit having one or more openings directed at the interior region. 
     
     
         54 . The device of any one of  claims 29-53 , further comprising a source of aromatics configured to distribute an aromatic into the cooled air. 
     
     
         55 . The device of  claim 54 , wherein the source of aromatics comprises a nebulizer. 
     
     
         56 . The device of any one of  claim 54 or 55 , wherein the source of aromatics comprises an essential oil. 
     
     
         57 . The device of any one of  claim 54 or 56 , wherein the source of aromatics comprises lavender oil. 
     
     
         58 . A method for regulating temperature around an extremity of a subject, the method comprising:
 providing a structure comprising a shaped frame defining an interior region, a fabric covering at least portion of the interior region, and a distributor positioned to distribute air into the interior region of the shaped frame;   positioning the structure and the subject relative to each other such that the subject has at least one extremity positioned within the interior region, wherein the at least one extremity does not contact the fabric, and the shaped frame does not surround an entire limb of the subject;   producing cooled air in a cooling system; and   distributing the cooled air at the extremity within the interior region of the shaped frame using the distributor.   
     
     
         59 . A device for regulating temperature around an extremity of a subject, the article comprising:
 a structure comprising a shaped frame defining an interior region;   a stand positioning the shaped frame at a height of between 1.5 ft and 3 ft over a bottom region of the stand;   a cooling system able to produce cooled air; and   a distributor for distributing the cooled air from the cooling system into the interior region of the shaped frame.   
     
     
         60 . A method, comprising:
 providing a structure comprising a shaped frame defining an interior region and having a fabric covering;   positioning the structure and the subject relative to each other such that the subject has at least one extremity positioned within the interior region, wherein the at least one extremity does not contact the fabric, and the shaped frame does not surround an entire limb of the subject; and   distributing cooled air at the extremity within the interior region of the shaped frame using a distributor immobilized relative to the shaped frame.